The Making of the Modern Gulf States: Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman (The making of the Middle East)

Rosemarie Said Zahlan tells the story of their formation of the modern Gulf states, their evolution from colonial dependency to statehood, and their fairy-tale transformation by oil. She illuminates their relationship with each other, with the wider Arab world and, crucially, with the major world powers. The result is an informed and balanced picture of the political, economic, religious and cultural character of the area.